Low molecular weight polypropylene derivatives

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are polypropylene derivatives and methods of preparing them. These derivatives can be used as, for example, compatibilizers. The degree of isotactic, syndiotactic or atactic structure of the compatibilizers can be modified based upon the character of the materials to be compatibilized to improve the effectiveness of the compatibilizer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/433,164, filed on May 3, 2003 as a filing under Rule 35U.S.C. §371 from PCT/US01/48725, filed 12 Dec. 2001, which claimedpriority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/255,035, filed on12 Dec. 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to polypropylene derivatives

2. Background of the Art

It is known to prepare polyolefin polymers for many applications. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,722 to Akimoto, et al., discloses preparinga toner composed of a resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent whereinthe releasing agent is a polyolefin polymer synthesized in the presenceof a metallocene catalyst. U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,573 to Endo, et al.,discloses preparing a developing apparatus for developing anelectrostatic image using a resin that can be an isotactic polypropylenemetallocene polymerization polymer.

Use of polyolefin polymers in, for example, toners as lubricants isreported in several patents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,536 to Ikeyama, et al.,claims a toner including a propylene-based copolymer wax wherein thepropylene-based copolymer has a weight average molecular weightdetermined by gel permeation chromatography of from 3,000 to 50,000, amelting point determined by differential scanning calorimetry of from120° C. to 140° C., and a propylene content of at least 90 mole percent.U.S. Pat. No. 6,052,940 to Fukuzawa, et al., claims a toner forelectrophotography, the toner at least containing a coloring agent, abinder resin, a charge control agent, and a functioning agent, wherein alow molecular weight polyolefin wax comprising co-polymers of alphaolefins with cycloolefins obtained by using a metallocene typepolymerization catalyst is the functioning agent. U.S. Pat. No.5,677,409 to Inoue, et al., claims a syndiotactic polypropylene waxhaving a syndiotactic pentad fraction of at least 0.7, a melting pointin a range of 120-170° C. as measured by a differential scanningcalorimeter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is a polypropylene derivativecomprising the reaction product of admixing: (a) a polypropylenehomopolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared bya process including polymerizing propylene in the presence of ametallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerizepropylene; (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene and aco-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature offrom about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditionssufficient to polymerize the propylene and co-monomer; or (c) a mixtureof (a) and (b), with a derivatizing agent or a series of derivatizingagents under reaction conditions sufficient to add to the polypropylenehomopolymer or polypropylene copolymer or mixtures thereof, a functionalgroup selected from the group consisting of alcohol, carboxylic acidester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylic acid, amine, amide,nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane, aldehyde, epoxide,alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate, higher alkoxylate, andhalogen functional groups.

In another aspect, the present invention is a compatibilizer comprisinga polypropylene derivative comprising the reaction product of admixing:(a) a polypropylene homopolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene in thepresence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 toabout 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient topolymerize propylene; (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to10,000 daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propyleneand a co-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at atemperature of from about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade underreaction conditions sufficient to polymerize the propylene andco-monomer; or (c) a mixture of (a) and (b), with a derivatizing agentor a series of derivatizing agents under reaction conditions sufficientto add to the polypropylene homopolymer or polypropylene copolymer ormixtures thereof, a functional group selected from the group consistingof alcohol, carboxylic acid ester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylicacid, amine, amide, nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane,aldehyde, epoxide, alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate,higher alkoxylate, and halogen functional groups.

Another aspect of the present invention is a coating comprising acompatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivative comprising thereaction product of admixing: (a) a polypropylene homopolymer having aMn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared by a process includingpolymerizing propylene in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at atemperature of from about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade underreaction conditions sufficient to polymerize propylene; (b) a copolymerhaving a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared by a processincluding polymerizing propylene and a co-monomer in the presence of ametallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerizethe propylene and co-monomer; or (c) a mixture of (a) and (b), with aderivatizing agent or a series of derivatizing agents under reactionconditions sufficient to add to the polypropylene homopolymer orpolypropylene copolymer or mixtures thereof, a functional group selectedfrom the group consisting of alcohol, carboxylic acid ester, carboxylicacid anhydride, carboxylic acid, amine, amide, nitrile, imine, silane,siloxane, sulfonate, alkane, aldehyde, epoxide, alcohol, organoborane,ethoxylate, propoxylate, higher alkoxylate, and halogen functionalgroups.

In still another aspect, the present invention is a process forcompatibilizing and/or improving the adhesion of a coating and surfaceupon which the coating is to be applied comprising admixing with thecoating a compatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivativecomprising the reaction product of admixing: (a) a polypropylenehomopolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared bya process including polymerizing propylene in the presence of ametallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerizepropylene; (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene and aco-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature offrom about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditionssufficient to polymerize the propylene and co-monomer; or (c) a mixtureof (a) and (b), with a derivatizing agent or a series of derivatizingagents under reaction conditions sufficient to add to the polypropylenehomopolymer or polypropylene copolymer or mixtures thereof, a functionalgroup selected from the group consisting of alcohol, carboxylic acidester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylic acid, amine, amide,nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane, aldehyde, epoxide,alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate, higher alkoxylate, andhalogen functional groups.

Another aspect of the present invention is a process for compatibilizinga coating and surface upon which the coating is to be applied comprisingapplying a compatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivativecomprising the reaction product of admixing: (a) a polypropylenehomopolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000 daltons prepared bya process including polymerizing propylene in the presence of ametallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about 30 to about 120degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficient to polymerizepropylene; (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300 to 10,000daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylene and aco-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature offrom about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditionssufficient to polymerize the propylene and co-monomer; or (c) a mixtureof (a) and (b), with a derivatizing agent or a series of derivatizingagents under reaction conditions sufficient to add to the polypropylenehomopolymer or polypropylene copolymer or mixtures thereof, a functionalgroup selected from the group consisting of alcohol, carboxylic acidester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylic acid, amine, amide,nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane, aldehyde, epoxide,alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate, higher alkoxylate, andhalogen functional groups.

In still another aspect, the present invention is a process for coatinga surface comprising determining the characteristics of a surface to becoated and then preparing a polypropylene derivative compatibilizerhaving a level isotacticity, syndiotacticity or atacticity such that thecompatibilizer has an optimal level of compatibility with the surface tobe coated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In one aspect, the present invention is a derivative of a polypropylenehomopolymer or copolymer, the homopolymer or copolymer being prepared bypolymerizing propylene or propylene and a co-monomer in the presence ofa metallocene catalyst. Metallocene catalysts are, in general,organometallic coordination compounds obtained as a potentiallysubstituted cyclopentadienyl derivative of a transition metal or metalhalide. Exemplary are dicylcopentadienyl-metals with the general formula(C₅H₅)₂M, dicylcopentadienyl-metal halides with the general formula(C₅H₅)₂MX₁₋₃, and monocylcopentadienyl-metal compounds with the generalformula (C₅H₅)MR₁₋₃, where R is CO, NO, a halide group, an alkyl group,and the like, M is a metal and X is a halide. For example, catalyst #465which is dimethylsilybis(1-methyl)-3-tert-butylcyclopentadienylzirconium dichloride, from Boulder Scientific, is a preferred catalystfor use with the present invention.

For the purposes of the present invention, the metallocene catalystswhich can be used with present invention include any that can be used toprepare the polypropylene derivatives of the present invention.Preferably, the catalysts are substituted ansa zirconocenes. Mostpreferably, the catalysts that are used with the present invention arethose having the general formula:

Inherent in this formula are also the following formulae:

In the formulae, M¹ is a metal of group IVb, Vb or V1b of the PeriodicTable, for example titanium, zirconium, hafnium, vanadium, niobium,tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, preferably titanium, zirconiumand hafnium.

R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, aC₁-C₁₀, preferably C₁-C₃-alkyl group, in particular methyl, a C₁-C₁₀,preferably C₁-C₃-alkoxy group, a C₆-C₁₀, preferably C₆-C₈-aryl group, aC₆-C₁₀, preferably C₆-C₈-aryloxy group, a C₂-C₁₀ preferablyC₂-C₄-alkcnyl group, a C₇-C₄₀, preferably C₇-C₁₀-arylalkyl group, aC₇-C₄₀, preferably C₇-C₁₂-alkylaryl group, a C₈-C₄₀, preferablyC₈-C₁₂-arylalkenyl group or a halogen atom, preferably chlorine.

R³ and R⁴ are identical or different and are each a monocyclic orpolycyclic hydrocarbon radical that can form a sandwich structure withthe central atom M¹. R³ and R⁴ are preferably cyclopentadienyl, indenyl,benzindenyl or fluorenyl, where the base structures can also bearadditional substituents or be bridged to one another. In addition, oneof the radicals R³ and R⁴ can be a substituted nitrogen atom, where R²⁴is as defined for R¹⁷ and is preferably methyl, t-butyl or cyclohexyl.

R⁵, R^(5′), R⁶, R^(6′), R⁸, R^(8′), R⁹ and R^(9′) are identical ordifferent and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, preferably afluorine, chlorine or bromine atom, a C₁-C₁₀, preferably C₁-C₄-alkylgroup, a C₆-C₁₀, preferably C₆-C₈-aryl group, a C₁-C₁₀, preferablyC₁-C₃-alkoxy group, an —NR¹⁶ ₂—, —SR¹⁶—, —OSiR¹⁶ ₃—, —SiR¹⁶ ₃—, or —PR¹⁶₂, radical, where R¹⁶ is a C₁-C₁₀, preferably C₁-C₃-alkyl group orC₆-C₁₀, preferably C₆-C₈-alkyl group, or in the case of Si- orP-containing radicals is also a halogen atom, preferably a chlorineatom, or two adjacent radicals R⁵, R⁶, R⁸, R⁹ or together with thecarbon atoms connecting them form a ring. Particularly preferred ligandsare the substituted compounds of the base structures indenyl,benzindenyl, fluorenyl and cyclopentadienyl. R¹³ is

═BR¹⁷, ═AlR¹⁷, —Ge—, —Sn—, -0-, —S—, ═S0, ═S0₂ ═NR^(15,) ═CO, ═PR¹⁵ or═P(O)R¹⁵, where R¹⁷, R¹⁸ and R¹⁹ are identical or different and are eacha hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₃₀, preferably C₁-C₄-alkyl group,in particular a methyl group, a C₁-C₁₀fluoroalkyl group, preferably aCF₃ group, a C₆-C₁₀-fluoroaryl group, preferably a pentafluorophenylgroup, a C₆-C₁₀, preferably C₆-C₈-aryl group, a C₁-C₁₀, preferablyC₁-C₄-alkoxy group, in particular a methoxy group, a C₂-C₁₀, preferablyC₂-C₄-alkenyl group, a C₇-C₄₀, preferably C₇-C₁₀-arylalkyl group, aC₈-C₄₀, preferably C₈-C₁₂-arylalkenyl group or a C₇-C₄₀,-, preferablyC₇-C₁₂-alkylaryl or R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ or R¹⁷ and R¹⁹, in each case togetherwith the atoms connecting them, form a ring.

M² is carbon, silicon, germanium or tin, preferably silicon orgermanium.

R¹³ is preferably ═CR¹⁷R¹⁸, ═SiR¹⁷R¹⁸, ═GeR¹⁷R¹⁸, -0-, —S—, ═S0, ═PR¹⁷or ═P(O)R¹⁷.

R¹¹ and R¹² are identical or different and are as defined for R¹⁷.

The symbols m and n are identical or different and are zero, 1 or 2,preferably zero or 1, where m plus n is zero, 1 or 2, preferably zero or1.

R¹⁴ and R¹⁵ are as defined for R¹⁷ and R¹⁸.

Examples of suitable metallocenes are the rac isomers of:ethylenebis-1-(2-methyltetrahydroindenyl) zirconiumdichloride,ethylenebis-1-(4,7-dimethyl indenyl)zirconium dichloride,ethylenebis-1-(2-methyl4-phenylindenyl)zirconium dichloride,ethylenebis-1-(2-methyl-4,5-benzindenyl)zirconium dichloride,etbylenebis-1-(2-methyl-4,5-benzo-6,7-dihydroindenyl) zirconiumdichloride, ethylenebis-1-(2-methylindenyl)zirconium dichloride,ethylenebis-1-tetrabydroindenylzirconium dichloride, and also the alkylor aryl derivatives of each of these metallocene dichlorides.

To activate the single-center catalyst systems, suitable cocatalysts areused. Suitable cocatalysts for metallocenes of the formula I areorganoaluminum compounds, in particular aluminoxanes, or aluminum-freesystems such as R²² _(x)NH_(4-x)BR²³ ₄, R²² _(x), PH_(4-x)BR²³ ₄, R²²₃CBR²³ ₄ or BR²³ ₃. In these formulae, x is from 1 to 4, the radicalsR²² are identical or different, preferably identical, and areC₁-C₁₀-alkyl or C₆-C₁₈-aryl or two radicals R²² together with the atomconnecting them form a ring, and the radicals R²³ are identical ordifferent, preferably identical, and are C₆-C₁₈-aryl which may besubstituted by alkyl, haloalkyl or fluorine. In particular, R²² isethyl, propyl, butyl or phenyl and R²³ is phenyl, pentafluorophenyl,3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl, mesityl, xylyl or tolyl.

These cocatalysts are particularly suitable in combination withmetallocenes of the formula I when R¹ and R² are each a C₁-C₁₀-alkylgroup or an aryl or benzyl group, preferably a methyl group. Derivativeformation to give the metallocenes of the formula I can be carried outby literature methods, for example by reaction with alkylating agentssuch as methyllithium (cf. Organometalics 9 (1990) 1359; J. Am Chem.Soc. 95 (1973) 6263).

In addition, a third component is frequently necessary to provideprotection against polar catalyst poisons. Organoaluminum compounds suchas triethylaluminum, tributylaluminum and others, and also mixtures, aresuitable for this purpose. Depending on the process, supportedsingle-center catalysts can also be used. Preference is given tocatalyst systems for which the residual contents of support material andcocatalyst in the product do not exceed a concentration of 100 ppm.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a polymer derivativewherein the polymer is an polypropylene copolymer. For the purposes ofthe present invention, a polypropylene copolymer is a polymer preparedwith propylene and at least one other monomer. Compounds useful forpreparing the copolymers of the present invention are any unsaturatedmonomer having from 2 to 30 carbons that can undergo polymerization withpropylene without giving rise to significant levels of crosslinking.Exemplary compounds include alpha olefins, hindered dienes and the like.The polypropylene copolymers of the present invention can be preparedwith from 0.1 to 50 mole percent co-monomers, but preferably are madewith from about 1 to about 20 mole percent commoners, and mostpreferably are made with from about 2 to about 10 mole percentco-monomers.

The polypropylene derivatives of the present invention may be isotactic,syndiotactic, or even atactic. In a highly isotactic polymer it is themeso orientation of consecutive stereo-centers which predominate in thebackbone of the polymer. This can be determined by ¹³C NMR analysis. Ina highly syndiotactic polymer it is the racemo orientation ofconsecutive stereo-centers which predominate in the backbone of thepolymer. This can be determined by ¹³C NMR analysis. In an atacticpolymer there is no pattern of stereo-centers in the backbone of thepolymer. It follows that polymers can vary in the degree of theseproperties and the degree of this structural organization can affectsuch properties as melting point, compatibility with other materials,and adhesion to other materials.

While the amount and type of tacticity of the polypropylene derivativesof the present invention may vary depending upon their intended end-use,some embodiments have a known desirable level of tacticity. For example,in certain embodiments, particularly in embodiments relating tocoatings, the polypropylene derivative is a derivative of apolypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about 10percent to 80 percent. In another embodiment, the derivative of apolypropylene homopolymer has an isotacticity of from about 10 percentto 39 percent. In still another embodiment, the polypropylene derivativehas an isotacticity of from about 10 percent to 35 percent. In yetanother embodiment, the polypropylene homopolymer derivative has asyndiotacticity of from about 15 percent to 30 percent.

The co-monomers which can be used to prepare the copolymer derivativesof the present invention preferably include: alpha olefins includingbutene, pentene, hexene, octene, styrene, isobutylene, and the like;hindered dienes including butadiene, isoprene, chloroprene, and thelike. In some applications, it can be desirable to use less conventionalco-monomers that add functionality to prepare a polypropylene copolymer.Co-monomers which impart added functionality such as allyltrimethylsilane, allyl benzene, norbornylene, vinyl chloride, vinylsilanes, vinyl siloxanes, vinyl ethers, isobutylene, and the like canalso be used and are preferred.

The polypropylene derivatives of the present invention can be preparedby any method known to be useful to those of ordinary skill in the artof preparing such derivatives. Any method of producing the product ofreacting the terminal unsaturation of a polypropylene with a compoundthat results in the formation of a hydroxy group, carboxy group or otherfunctional group on the homopolymer or copolymer can be used with thepresent invention. For example, one such derivative can be prepared byreacting a polypropylene homo or copolymer with hydrogen peroxide andformic acid to form an epoxide. Additionally, the epoxide can be furtherreacted with zinc iodide to form an aldehyde, and so on. Additionallythe aldehyde can be reduced to an alcohol using sodium borohydride.Additionally the epoxide can be reduced to the alcohol in one step byreacting with hydrogen in the presence of a transition metal catalyst.

These derivatives of the present invention can also function asintermediates in the preparation of other derivatives. For example, afirst derivative having a primary hydroxyl group can be reacted withethylene oxide or propylene oxide in the presence of a base to form apolyether alcohol. The resultant derivative polymers will have abackbone of a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer but will terminatewith a group having a relative high reactivity including but not limitedto: alcohols, amines, amide, imides, carboxylates, carboxylic acidesters, carboxylic acid anhydrides, and the like.

There are yet additional derivatives of polypropylene homopolymers andcopolymers of the present invention. The additional derivatives aresaturated polymers prepared by adding hydrogen across the terminaldouble bond of a polypropylene homopolymer or copolymer of the presentinvention. These derivatives are prepared by any method of hydrogenatinga polymer known to one of ordinary skill in the art of preparingsaturated polymers.

The polypropylene derivatives may also include polypropylenepolyfunctional polymers. For example, one such polymer is prepared bythe reaction pf polypropylene homopolymer with maleic anhydride and aradical source such as a peroxide to graft multiple anhydride groupsonto the polymer molecule. These functional groups include but are notlimited to: alcohols, amines, amides, imides, carboxylates, esters,carboxylic acid anhydrides, and the like.

The melting point, as measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry(DSC) of a polypropylene polymer depends on the type of tacticity,amount of tacticity, and molecular weight. Polypropylene polymers withhigh degrees of either isotacticity or syndiotacticity will have highmelting points, potentially exceeding 150° C. Lower levels of eitherisotacticity or syndiotacticity cause the DSC melting points todecrease. Atactic polypropylene derivates, being amorphous, do not havea DSC melting point but do decrease in viscosity as a function oftemperature. The preferred polypropylenes for this invention will varydepending on the nature of materials for compatibilization/adhesionpromotion. Optimum compatibility and adhesion promotion will be afunction of isotacticity, molecular weight, and melting point. This isbest determined by experimentation.

The polypropylene derivatives of the present invention, particularlythose containing polar groups such as maleic and succinic acids and acidanhydrides, alkoxylates, ethers, alcohols, and amines may be especiallyuseful as compatibilizers and adhesion promoters. These derivatives maybe used to compatibilize and promote adhesion between two materialswhich would otherwise be incompatible. For example, the comparativelynon-polar backbone of a derivative of the present invention can beprepared with a polar functional group such as a maleic group tocompatibilize a polar material and a non-polar material. Thecompatibilizers also can be effective adhesion improvers capable ofimproving the adhesion of a coating and a surface to be coated. For thepurposes of the present invention, the term compatibilizer also meansadhesion improver.

Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be modified tosuit it intended use in relation to the structure of the polypropyleneportion of the derivative. For example, if the polypropylene derivativeis to be use to compatibilize a polar compound and a surface that ismore compatible with an isotactic polypropylene, then the isotacticityof the derivative of the present invention can be increased. Similarly,the atacticity or syndiotacticity can be modified. This is done throughselection of the metallocene catalyst and the polymerization conditionsand would be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

The compatibilizers of the present invention can be admixed with acoating and then the coating applied to a surface. In anotherembodiment, the compatibilizer can be applied first to a surface and thethen the coating can be applied to the surface.

When applied directly to the surface, the compatibilizers of the presentinvention can also include solvents, carriers, and stabilizers.

The following examples are provided to illustrate the present invention.The examples are not intended to limit the scope of the presentinvention and they should not be so interpreted. Amounts are in weightparts or weight percentages unless otherwise indicated.

EXAMPLE 1

A polyolefin derivative is prepared. 80 g of polypropylene (0.11 moles),20 g maleic anhydride (0.2 moles), 1.25 g butylated hydroxy toluene(BHT), and 40 g xylenes are placed into a steel pressure reactor formingan admixture. The polypropylene has a Mn of 700, 32% isotactic pentads(¹³C NMR), and a melting point of 82° C. (determined by means of adifferential scanning calorimeter (DSC) peak) and was prepared using ametallocene catalyst and had a terminal vinylidene group onsubstantially all the molecules as determined by ¹³C NMR. The admixtureis heated to 200° C. for 18 hours with continuous stirring. Theadmixture is cooled to allow handling and poured into a tray. The trayis heated to 150° C. under vacuum to remove solvent, excess maleicanhydride, and BHT. The conversion is essentially complete based on thedisappearance of the vinylidene peaks and the appearance of the succinicanhydride carbonyl peaks in the ¹³C NMR spectrum.

1. A polypropylene derivative comprising the reaction product ofadmixing: (a) a polypropylene homopolymer having a Mn of from about 300to 10,000 daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propylenein the presence of a metallocene catalyst at a temperature of from about30 to about 120 degrees centigrade under reaction conditions sufficientto polymerize propylene; (b) a copolymer having a Mn of from about 300to 10,000 daltons prepared by a process including polymerizing propyleneand a co-monomer in the presence of a metallocene catalyst at atemperature of from about 30 to about 120 degrees centigrade underreaction conditions sufficient to polymerize the propylene andco-monomer; or (c) a mixture of (a) and (b), with a derivatizing agentor a series of derivatizing agents under reaction conditions sufficientto add to the polypropylene homopolymer or polypropylene copolymer ormixtures thereof, a functional group selected from the group consistingof alcohol, carboxylic acid ester, carboxylic acid anhydride, carboxylicacid, amine, amide, nitrile, imine, silane, siloxane, sulfonate, alkane,aldehyde, epoxide, alcohol, organoborane, ethoxylate, propoxylate,higher alkoxylate, and halogen functional groups.
 2. The polypropylenederivative of claim 1 wherein the functional group is selected from thegroup consisting of a maleic acid group, a succinic acid group, a maleicacid anhydride, a succinic acid anhydride, and mixtures thereof.
 3. Thepolypropylene derivative of claim 1 wherein the polypropylene derivativeis prepared using a polypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity offrom about 6 percent to 90 percent.
 4. The polypropylene derivative ofclaim 3 wherein the polypropylene homopolymer has an isotacticity offrom about 10 percent to 80 percent.
 5. The polypropylene derivative ofclaim 4 wherein the polypropylene homopolymer has an isotacticity offrom about 10 percent to 39 percent
 6. The polypropylene derivative ofclaim 1 wherein the polypropylene derivative is prepared using apolypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about 10percent to 35 percent.
 7. The polypropylene derivative of claim 6wherein polypropylene homopolymer having an isotacticity of from about15 percent to 30 percent.
 8. The polypropylene derivative of claim 7wherein the functional group is selected from the group consisting of amaleic acid group, a succinic acid group, a maleic acid anhydride, asuccinic acid anhydride, and mixtures thereof.
 9. A compatibilizercomprising a polymer derivative of claim
 1. 10. A coating comprising acompatibilizer of claim
 9. 11. A process for compatibilizing and/orenhancing adhesion of a coating and surface upon which the coating is tobe applied comprising admixing with the coating a compatibilizercomprising a polypropylene derivative of claim
 1. 12. A process forcompatibilizing and/or improving the adhesion of a coating and a surfaceupon which the coating is to be applied comprising applying acompatibilizer comprising a polypropylene derivative of claim 1 to thesurface prior to applying the coating.
 13. A process for coating asurface in order to improve compatibility and/or adhesion of the surfacewith a coating comprising determining the characteristics of a surfaceto be coated and then preparing a polypropylene derivativecompatibilizer having a level of isotacticity, syndiotacticity oratacticity, and/or melting point, and/or molecular weight, such that thecompatibilizer has an optimal level of compatibility with the surface tobe coated.
 14. The process of claim 13 additionally comprising applyingthe compatibilizer to the surface to be coated and then applying acoating to the surface to be coated.
 15. The process of claim 13additionally comprising admixing the compatibilizer with a coating andthen applying the coating to the surface to be coated.